Proteins and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to proteins suitable for treating or preventing an inflammatory or autoimmune condition, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and methods of use comprising same.

1 . An isolated, recombinant or synthetic protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 70% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:4, 8, 11, 1, 6, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 11, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8 and 11, or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The protein according to  claim 1  wherein the amino acid sequence has at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-20, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 11, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8 and 11. 
     
     
         3 . The protein according to  claim 1 or claim 2  wherein the amino acid sequence is any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-20, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 11, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8 and 11. 
     
     
         4 . The protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 3  wherein the amino acid sequence has at least about 70% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:4, 8, 1, 6, 2, 3, 5 and 7, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ IDs: 4 and 8. 
     
     
         5 . The protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 4  wherein the amino acid sequence has at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-8, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ IDs: 4 and 8. 
     
     
         6 . The protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 5  wherein the amino acid sequence is any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-8, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ IDs: 4 and 8. 
     
     
         7 . An isolated, recombinant or synthetic protein comprising an amino acid sequence in which a total of up to about 250 amino acids have been substituted, inserted and/or deleted in any one of SEQ ID NOs:4, 8, 11, 1, 6, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 11, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8 and 11, or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The protein according to  claim 7  in which a total of up to about 225, up to about 200, up to about 175, up to about 125, up to about 100, up to about 75, up to about 50, up to about 40, up to about 30, up to about 25, up to about 20, up to about 15 or up to about 10 amino acids have been substituted, inserted and/or deleted in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-20, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 11, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8 and 1. 
     
     
         9 . The protein according to  claim 7 or claim 8  wherein the amino acid sequence has a total of up to about 250 amino acids which have been substituted, inserted and/or deleted in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-8, or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The protein according to  claim 7  wherein the amino acid sequence has a total of up to about 225, up to about 200, up to about 175, up to about 125, up to about 100, up to about 75, up to about 50, up to about 40, up to about 30, up to about 25, up to about 20, up to about 15 or up to about 10 amino acids which have been substituted, inserted and/or deleted in any one of SEQ ID NOs:4, 8, 1, 6, 2, 3, 5 and 7, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 11, 1 and 6, more preferably any one of SEQ IDs: 4 and 8. 
     
     
         11 . A recombinant protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence having at least about 70% sequence identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs:24, 28, 31, 21, 26, 43, 46, 48, 41, 45, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs:24, 28, 31, 21 and 26, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 24, 28 and 31, or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The protein according to  claim 11  wherein the nucleotide sequence has at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:21-53, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs:24, 28, 31, 21 and 26, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 24, 28 and 31. 
     
     
         13 . The protein according to  claim 11 or claim 12  wherein the nucleotide sequence is any one of SEQ ID NOs:21-53, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs:24, 28, 31, 21, 26, 43, 46, 48, 41 and 45, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs: 24, 28 and 31. 
     
     
         14 . The protein according to any one of  claims 11 to 13  wherein the nucleotide sequence has at least about 70% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:21-28, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs:24 and 28. 
     
     
         15 . The protein according to any one of  claims 11 to 14  wherein the nucleotide sequence has at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:21-28, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs:24 and 28. 
     
     
         16 . The protein according to any one of  claims 11 to 15  wherein the nucleotide sequence is any one of SEQ ID NOs:21-28, preferably any one of SEQ ID NOs:24 and 28. 
     
     
         17 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 16 , or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating or preventing an inflammatory or autoimmune condition comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 16 , or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof, or the pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 17 , thereby treating or preventing an inflammatory or autoimmune condition in the subject. 
     
     
         19 . A method for the treatment or prevention of an inflammatory or autoimmune condition in a subject comprising the steps of:
 identifying a subject having an inflammatory or autoimmune condition; and   administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 16 , or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof, or the pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 17     thereby treating or preventing an inflammatory or autoimmune condition in the subject   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 or claim 19  wherein the inflammatory or autoimmune condition is selected from an inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, allergy and coeliac disease. 
     
     
         21 . Use of the protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 16 , or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing an inflammatory or autoimmune condition. 
     
     
         22 . The use of  claim 21  wherein the inflammatory or autoimmune condition is selected from an inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, allergy and coeliac disease. 
     
     
         23 . The protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 16 , ora biologically active fragment or variant thereof, for use in treating or preventing an inflammatory or autoimmune condition. 
     
     
         24 . The protein according to  claim 23  wherein the inflammatory or autoimmune condition is selected from an inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, allergy and coeliac disease. 
     
     
         25 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein according to any one of  claims 1 to 16  or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A vector or expression construct comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 25 . 
     
     
         27 . A cell comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 25  or the vector or expression construct according to  claim 26 . 
     
     
         28 . A method of producing a protein or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof comprising incubating the cell of  claim 27  under conditions that allow it to express the protein or biologically active fragment or variant thereof.